spin_unlock(&res->spinlock);
                /* this will cause the master to re-assert across
                 * the whole cluster, freeing up mles */
-               ret = dlm_do_master_request(mle, res->owner);
-               if (ret < 0) {
-                       /* give recovery a chance to run */
-                       mlog(ML_ERROR, "link to %u went down?: %d\n", res->owner, ret);
-                       msleep(500);
-                       goto recheck;
+               if (res->owner != dlm->node_num) {
+                       ret = dlm_do_master_request(mle, res->owner);
+                       if (ret < 0) {
+                               /* give recovery a chance to run */
+                               mlog(ML_ERROR, "link to %u went down?: %d\n", res->owner, ret);
+                               msleep(500);
+                               goto recheck;
+                       }
                }
                ret = 0;
                goto leave;